This week’s round of Hyundai A-League action will celebrate the contribution made to our game by grassroots clubs, coaches, players and officials while encouraging young people to head down to their local clubs and give our great game a try.
Melbourne City captain Patrick Kisnorbo took some time out from preparations for tonight’s huge Melbourne derby to discuss with his club why he decided to #PlayFootball.
Melbourne City: So, Paddy, just tell us a little bit about the first time when you arrived at Essendon Football Club and also the first team that you played for there?
Patrick: I got scouted by a coach there to come down, he pretty much poached me from Glenroy. I went down there and I had great success, I was there, I think, from under 11’s to under 13‘s, around that era, and we never lost a game in two years. We won the Victorian cup, the Italian cup, the Thomasdale Cup, got invited to Fiji and we had a lot of great success there and we had a lot of great players that represented Australia in that team that I was with for two years and it was just a great family club to be part of.
Melbourne City: You said you had a lot of good mates there as well do they carry through to today as well?
Patrick: Yeah, my best friend until this very day, his name is Frank, I went to school with him, played for the same club, he a bit older than me. And, yeah, I had a lot of friends from there that I still keep in touch with and that’s fortunate for me.
Melbourne City: Just tell us a bit about your first coach as well?
Patrick: My first coach, his name was Pino Borinio [not 100 per cent to spelling] and I never forget he used to drive a red van and we used to always laugh because he’d drive and look like Postman pat. But he was great, you know, great developer, great guy we learned a lot of him. He was more of a father figure to all the players and he was just a great coach.
Melbourne City: And just tell us about your biggest rivalry, was there one club that you played against where there was a huge rivalry?
Patrick: Yeah our rivalry was Brunswick Juventus, they had the name, the colours – the black and whites – which was always intimidating. But we used to always beat them 3 or 4-0. But, look, that was our biggest rivalry, every game was intense. It’s just one of those things that, as a kid, it’s just great to be part of and if I could go back to those days I’d love to because as a footballer that’s what you enjoy. You enjoy those days that eventually get you here.
Melbourne City: And, just last one, obviously you said the team was very successful, what were the most outstanding achievements for you personally and the team?
Patrick: For the team, we won every cup there was in Melbourne and we never lost a game and for that I’d probably rate it as the best team in Victoria. Personally, it was just great to be part of a team that had that, we had a lot of good players that represented the country and like myself went on to represent the country and go overseas and I think that was crucial in my development and moving abroad.
Players, coaches and referees can register to “Play Football” by logging onto Australia’s biggest online sports registration portal, which can be found at http://www.myfootballclub.com.au/
Get down to the following Centres this weekend to meet your Hyundai A-League heroes and get involved in some fun football activities.
* Newcastle Jets – Westfield Kotara – Saturday 7th February 12.30–2.30pm
* Melbourne City – Westfield Plenty Valley – Sunday 8th February 11am-2pm
* Perth Glory – Westfield Whitford City – Sunday 8th February 11am-2pm
* Western Sydney Wanderers – Westfield Penrith – Thursday February 12th 4.30pm-5.30pm
* Melbourne Victory – Westfield Knox – Friday February 27th 4pm-5pm
Check back regularly as more clubs announce their appearances.
Check westfield.com.au for more detailed information.
